3.0 Affected Environment - Knik Arm Bridge and Toll Authority

Knik Arm Crossing DraftFinal EIS
Affected Environment
3.6.2.1.4 Fishing and hunting
The Mat-Su portion of the Study Area lies within the Knik Arm Management Unit of the
Northern Cook Inlet Sport Fish Management Area (NCIMA). Most of the freshwater rivers
and streams in the Mat-Su are open to sport fishing; regulations vary by location. Open
season is June 15 to April 14 for most of the Mat-Su portion of the Study Area. (The Little
Susitna River is open year-round for all species except Chinook salmon.) Fishing and hunting
are important recreational activities in the Point MacKenzie area and other parts of the
Mat-Su. The Little Susitna River is the most heavily fished stream in the Knik Arm
Management Unit (Sweet et al. 2003). The Little Susitna River produces all five species of
Pacific salmon found in Alaska and is famous as one of the state’s best silver salmon streams
(it has the second-largest freshwater harvest of silver salmon in Alaska). It is one of the
Mat-Su’s most popular fisheries, receiving over 50,000 angler-days of use per year
Game harvest data collected by the ADF&G for Game Management Unit 14A, which
encompasses most of the Mat-Su including the Point MacKenzie area and Upper Cook Inlet,
are presented in the Terrestrial Mammal Technical Report (KABATA 2006p). In 2002–
2003, 2,910 individuals engaged in moose hunting, which is the primary hunting activity in
the Mat-Su. Black bear is the other large game species hunted in the area. In 2000–2001,
there were 137 black bear permittees in Game Management Unit 14 (Healy 2002). Waterfowl
hunting and furbearer trapping also occur in the Mat-Su.
3.6.2.1.5 Trails
Trails play a key role in the recreation of residents and visitors throughout the Mat-Su
(MSB 2003a). According to the Recreational Trails Plan prepared by the Mat-Su Borough
(2000), 2,000 miles of regionally significant recreational trails cross much of the Mat-Su.
These traditional trails provide for a wide range of functional and recreational activities, from
dog mushing to snowmachining, skiing, hiking, biking, wood hauling, hunting, and trapping
(Section 3.2.2.5). Some winter trails are groomed weekly for Nordic skiing, and several track
and skate skiing trails are maintained throughout the winter.
Many commonly used trails within the Mat-Su that are not dedicated. While some of these
undedicated trails lie entirely on public lands, the Mat-Su Borough (2000) estimates that
approximately 80 percent of the trails cross private land. Without legal public access, these
trails can be closed at the discretion of the landowner.
The Mat-Su Borough has established the Point MacKenzie Recreational Trailhead, an access
point for snowmachiners where a major power transmission line crosses Point MacKenzie
Road (Figure 3.34). The trailhead provides access to a series of informal, undesignated trails
that are used by snowmachines in winter and by all-terrain vehicles in summer. It also
provides access along the power line to the Susitna Flats SGR and points west, as well as to
points east along the power transmission line easement. While the trails are not officially and
formally dedicated, the trailhead was established expressly to provide recreational access. It
was upgraded and formalized with funding from a 2002 Recreational Trails Grant
administered by the State of Alaska and paid for principally with taxes on snowmachine and
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